CACTUS COW DIGITAL BLOG

Eighty percent of Americans have made an online purchase in the last month. Just four percent have never ordered something on the internet before. These statistics prove that U.S. e-commerce is thriving, with more consumers choosing the mouse over the mall. E-commerce platforms — software used by online retailers in various niches — fall into two categories: self-hosted and hosted. Both come with pros and cons. But which one is better?

The U.S. health care industry spends more than $9.7 billion in ads each year, with an increasing amount going towards digital marketing efforts. Approximately 12.6 percent of this budget went to digital channels in 2016, according to AdAge, and that figure continues to rise. If you're new to digital healthcare marketing, use this guide to begin developing your strategy to bring in more patients and retain your current clients.

The solar energy market is heating up. In 2016, solar installations in the United States almost doubled from the year before, and 40 percent of new power generation projects were solar. As a business owner, you can capitalize on the solar market with these simple marketing tips. Incorporate them into your promotional strategies for red-hot sales growth.

You might see a lot of e-commerce platforms on the market, but they're not all suited to a B2B environment. During your platform evaluation process, you need to examine whether each one truly supports your products and gives you the opportunity to offer an industry-leading B2B e-commerce experience. Taking a look at this B2B e-commerce platform comparison will allow for a more educated decision making process.

Social media generates a powerful sales lift for stores that use this as part of their marketing tactics. BigCommerce found that online sales increased up to 32 percent for businesses leveraging social media channels. Discover how your business can increase online sales through social media marketing tactics!

There are more than 2.8 million apps on Google Play and 2.2 million on Apple's App Store. If you still haven't created a mobile app for your business, develop one this year. Mobile apps will let you engage with your customers on a deeper level and boost sales. Here are some of the reasons why your business needs a mobile app in 2018.

Online advertising platforms let you organize your digital marketing initiatives in one place, saving you loads of time. You can manage your ad campaigns, generate reports, explore analytics and find out who interacts with your marketing messages. There are hundreds of these services out there, so it can be hard to know which platform is best for your business. Here's a complete list of the top digital advertising programs.

Healthcare providers spent more money on marketing in 2017 than ever before. Content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), paid-for ads — organizations used these marketing methods to increase awareness about their services. This year, new technologies and changing customer habits will influence healthcare marketing. Here are three healthcare marketing trends for 2018 that will influence your own campaigns.

In case you’ve been living in a bunker for the past month, Tesla’s eccentric founder, Elon Musk, successfully launched the first car into orbit via his own rocket, Falcon Heavy. The car, a Tesla Roadster, is being “driven” by a dummy called Starman, and you can see the live stream here.

The solar energy market’s growth has made it an appealing venture for small and large businesses alike. However, in recent years, behemoth solar conglomerates have formed, making it difficult for small businesses to compete. Indeed, the “Wal-Mart effect” has entrapped the solar energy industry, like it’s done to so many other markets. Solar market giants throw their weight around to drive prices down and eventually push out the smaller guys.